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RE: A deeper look into scouting whitetails.....
Well I've learned yet another thing from this thread...I need to scout more, that's for sure....Not sure yet what I'm looking for or how to identify some of it, but that's what I need to do.
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RE: A deeper look into scouting whitetails.....
Great post, Scott. I've pretty much lived by this mantra for the last couple years, but became even more zealous about it this past year after reading Don Higgins' Hunting Trophy Whitetails in the Real World... For those interested, you can learn more about this book at http://www.higginsoutdoors.com/ Scott's post goes hand-in-hand with most of the thoughts layed out by Don in this book, and probably explains why both have some monster bucks to their credit. My favorite line from the book, as GregH pointed out above, is that most hunters hunt sign instead of hunting deer. |
RE: A deeper look into scouting whitetails.....
Hey Mobow.... Doesn't this sound familiar! I've been preaching it to mobow for forever :D
My favorite line from the book, as GregH pointed out above, is that most hunters hunt sign instead of hunting deer. |
RE: A deeper look into scouting whitetails.....
Thank you all. I'm hunting a new area next year. There are a few housing areas along parts of the property. I believe in April when the ground starts to dry I may go walk part of it. Do any of you use arial photos owner has new ones taken every spring. If you do how do you use them.
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RE: A deeper look into scouting whitetails.....
Excellent thread and a topic that Don Higgins devotes a lot of time to in his book.I definitely believe it to be true.How often have you heard it said that the first time a stand is hunted it is the most productive and becomes decreasingly so as the number of times it is hunted it increases.I do believe that with really paying attention to the wind and doing what you can do decrease the odors you bring in to the woods with you that you can keep a stand fresher.In area's like David was describing deer are much more used to people and will tolerate a lot more than they would in remote area's.
I have been very conscious about these things over the last several years and am sure have had greater success as a result of it. |
RE: A deeper look into scouting whitetails.....
Walkabouts during the season can definitly put down the deer. On the wi fall turkey we pounded the woods , That evening not surprisingly I saw 0 deer, in an area I usually see many! But when the farmer takes the ATV and runs his dogs the deer return to theur normal patterns. They are used to the intrusion and he keeps to the trails. I like to have my stands hung by Aug. I do need to trim shooting lanes at this time since the area is very brushy with a combination of mature oaks and scrub oaks and a lot of dense cedars. Most places you can't see more than 20yds in any given direction. From the ground it looks like tunnels thru the cedars and if you get more than 15ft up an oak you can hardly see the ground. I try to use trees on the main trails where the smaller game trails intersect.
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RE: A deeper look into scouting whitetails.....
buckeyebuckhntr
How true, I am suprised it came from a Buckeye, LOL This past season it rained like no other. Which met no one walk back to the middle of our farm to cut wood or just screw around. I have change my stlye to "low impact hunting", I do not want the deer to know they are being hunted. I hunt around my Dad an uncles wood cutting and general walking aroundthe last 15 years. In 2006 the farm had less pressure than it has had in 20 years. I shot big 16 where I never would have thought, I hunted that stand that night to see if I could see where he was going. Hunting low profile is a great way to get a mature buck IMO. I will have all my stand set by end Feb, I will not enter the woods until opening day. I also have no game cameras and never will. I just do not understand walking out to wherea mature buck has been and scenting the place up. To see if he has been there. I want to see him with my top pin right in the boiler maker;) My best friend said I am insane, becasue I rake the paths(7-8 steps on average) to my stands from the river. I do not want to make a peep when I enter the woods. I also am a firm believer in getting to a morning stand at least 2 hrs early. I like this one that I coined to my Dad and unlces!! "I have seldom seen a great stand(area) under hunted, but I sure see you guys over hunting them" |
RE: A deeper look into scouting whitetails.....
I find in season scouting very crucial. Summer and early fall I don't go near my areas, I know them, no need to go into them. Also once the season starts I may take a shot or 2 at a deep in spot, but generally I try to hunt edges and lesser invasive areas and stack up on does. Once things heat up I will move closer into my better stands. Often times I will use a VERY windy day to sneak thru the woods checking for the hot areas and then make decisions about hunting them.
In short, in season "on the fly" scouting to me is very important, but I also don't go running thru it alot. 1 trip, in ideal conditions is all that is needed to gain the info I need. |
RE: A deeper look into scouting whitetails.....
I would have a tendency to agree that some in season speed scouting may be necessary. This year the acorns were plentiful early but dried up later in October. The food changed and so go the deer.
You're in PA too. What do you look as a food sourcefor after the acrns are gone? I don't hunt farms just big woods. |
RE: A deeper look into scouting whitetails.....
Here is a review of John Eberhart's new DVD, Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails Vol. 1, Which is devoted to postseason scouting. He advocates impacting your area as little as possible not only during the hunting season, but also in the preseason. Very useful material.
I just had the pleasure to watch the first release from a new entrant into the competitive world of hunting videos. John Eberhart, who authored the books “Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails” and “Precision Bowhunting”, has just released 4 new Bowhunting DVDs which are a welcome addition to the current offering of hunting titles available. Unlike 99% of the whitetail videos on the market, this series is strictly instructional. If you’re looking for kill shot after kill shot, this is not the series for you! Volume 1 stresses the importance of post-season scouting. Eberhart explains that scouting once hunting season is over allows the hunter to inspect sign associated with the rut, which is much more useful to the hunter than the sign one might see during the summer or early fall. Also, one has much more latitude in his actions because chasing deer out of the area is not a big risk. They’ll be back by next season! This is not some dry classroom lecture! The video is shot in the field during post-season scouting. Everything Eberhart discusses is demonstrated. He goes into considerable detail about using topographic maps and aerial photographs to assess a piece of hunting land. He discusses the importance of water sources, funnels, mast & fruit bearing trees, marshes, tree preparation and understanding how crop rotations should affect one’s hunting strategy. Additionally, rubs and rub lines, staging and bedding areas, and scrapes are all covered. I was initially a little intimidated by some of the jargon that Eberhart used. Fortunately, he has included a very helpful video dictionary of the various terms used in this presentation in the bonus materials. It might be a good idea for new whitetail hunters to watch this section first, before watching the video. Volume 2 discusses preseason scouting, and Volume 3 looks at which hunting tactics to use during the various parts of the season. The fourth title released is Archery Mechanic 101. I look forward to watching these titles as well. I am often asked for recommendations for hunting videos that would be helpful for beginners. This certainly fits the bill in that regard, but I believe that many seasoned whitetail hunters will walk away from this film having learned a thing or two. Also, even though the title is Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails, I believe that gun hunters would find it very helpful as well. As always, this title is availble at HuntFlix, both for purchase and as part of our Unlimited Hunting DVD Rental program. -- FLIX |
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